We love to talk about each other. We love to gossip. We can he hypercritical of each other, second guessing each others decisions. We LOVE to pick apart the newbies. We'll mock you if you are too eager or not eager enough. There have been times over the last couple of years where I've actually wondered if any one person in EMS liked any one other person in EMS or if we were all just a bunch of backstabbing cheating functional alcoholic haters.

Yes, I'm generalizing here. Indulge me.

What I learned this week first hand has convinced me otherwise. I've heard about the "EMS family"... I've read about it in posts on EMS websites and blogs... But I've only caught glimpses of it. I've never felt like I've been a part of it. I'm not talking about watching your partners back...

I'm talking about going to all out war for your EMS brothers or sisters. Circle the troops, call in the calvary, we're-allowed-to-fuck-with-each-other-but-don't-you-DARE-fuck-with-one-of-us camaraderie. I'm talking about coming unglued when a brother or sister is threatened.

Our spouses and families don't understand it. Our non-EMS friends don't get it. I'm not sure many outside the Public Service realm can begin to grasp it. I can't explain it. I just know it exists.

To my EMS family. I couldn't love you any more if I tried. I know most of you wont even see this, but I want it out there, stated in print for you to others to see. You are the best group of people I could ever dream of working with. I am honored to know you. I am humbled to be called a sister.

To Sam and Kyle... I don't work with you, but it doesn't make a bit of difference to me. I'd walk through fire for either of you. I adore you both. You've been a Godsend to me. And to think I found you both through blogging. See, the internet is not pure evil :)

4 comments:

Epi - the world of public service, be it EMS/Firefighting/Law Enforcement, is a "brotherhood" that most will never understand. About the only group that can get a grasp on it are veterans - and I'm sure you can understand that.

It takes a special kind of person to do any of those jobs - and do them well. But that is a fact that many will never understand - nor do they want to.

I hope you get to see stronger moments of the EMS family; it's a really amazing thing.And, um, way to make me blush. I adore you too--after all, you are my should-be big sister!And of course, you know I'd do the same for you. Let me know if I ever need to.

Who is this poor girl?

Disclaimer...

Let me make this perfectly clear...Names, ages, genders, locations, hospitals... All fake. Totally and completely fake. Any similarity to any event that's ever taken place in the history of man is purely coincidence. My thoughts, beliefs, etc. are my own and may or may not be the thoughts, beliefs, etc., of my employer, my school, or anyone I know.